Pros and cons: thinking about retirement

 I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about how retirement will play out.  I am starting the process, even though I know that I'm still a couple of years out from making big changes.

Having my own desk at work feels unusual for me but I kinda love it

Over 30 years, more or less, I have worked hard to get to get to where I am right now with a great shift (Saturday through Monday), a boss who values me, an easier workday, increased pay, and maximized benefits.  And work provides me with intangibles, too, like socialization and a sense of purpose.  My weekends bookend my days off, which are easier traffic-wise and in setting appointments. Those four days off provide me with lots of rest, free time to work on my hobbies or my home, and time to meet up with friends and family.  There are several reasons for me to keep working, and not one I can think of right now to stop.

This was an epiphany of sorts to me.

I can plan for retirement in the future, but I will continue working this job and this schedule until I am ready to pull back.  A lot of what feels unlikeable about my day-to-day living is like burnout, and I can take steps to improve that.  In every job, no matter how much you love or value it, there are going to be challenges.

Anyway, that's where my head is today.  The week ahead holds a book club meeting, starting a new book (The Frozen River), continuing the photo project, getting my desk organized, and doing a bit of yardwork.  Missing from the list will be worrying about the future!

Gina

5 thing Friday - bathroom spiff, paint storage, keychain, going out, Spring

I didn't spend a lot of time feeling sad this week - too busy with things here and there.  I feel like this week's To Do list will not get completely done - and that's OK.  We are "springing forward" this weekend and I want to make sure I get a nap in today!

The light fixtures in my bathroom, repainted by me many years ago, are showing their age and a bit of rust on the corners.  So I will be spiffing them up with a little spray paint in this pretty silvery champagne color.  Which encouraged me to do a bathroom refresh all around.

I took everything off the vanity, cleaned it up, put back only the things I wanted sitting out, added a couple of faux plants.  I also stored all of the personal care things that were sitting on the ledge around the tub and added a pretty 3-wick candle (not shown). 

 A calm and clean uncluttered space was just what I was after.  Even faux plants can soothe!

I don't know if I ever showed the method I have for saving touch-up paint from those big painting projects.  These screw top plastic containers work well to organize the bit of paint with product info in case I need to buy more.  Each container has a small stainless steel mixing ball inside, too.

I had one more to add from the last big paint job.  They all live in the cleaning closet just off the kitchen.  Hopefully, they will stay fresher in here than their original can in a hot garage.  {every time I open this closet I am newly pleased with the fact that it isn't stuffed full of crap I don't want!}

I pulled out my clear crossbody purse to go to a show downtown and I found this silver keychain clipped onto it.  I polished it up and discovered "Jim" engraved on the back.  I had picked this up when we cleared Mom's house - I don't remember if she ever told me where it came from, but I suspect she bought it for him as a gift.  It lived in a small dish in her office for years.

With my '60 penny and a silver "evil eye" charm, it made the perfect talisman to navigate an evening out at the Paramount Theater to see the Vitamin String Quartet.

I found parking nearby, walked alone to the venue, found my seat, and enjoyed a show.  The music was all contemporary and the show was high energy.  Music of  Bridgerton, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and more - a varied mix with some music I did not recognize.  These solo dates have been a lot of fun, but I think I will change them up.  I have one more symphony to attend, then will look for things closer to North Austin that are budget friendly.

Beer and talk time with a friend at Meanwhile yesterday.  The weather has been unreasonably pretty with average temps in the low 80s.  Everything, and I mean everything, is blooming.  March winds are knocking all of the oak leaves and pollen out of the trees, so pretty soon it will be time for me to re-rake and clean the yards.  But not today.  The rest of the day I have:

*a meeting with retirement team to talk pre-planning

*lunch with Grayson (peep #4)

*pick up a few filler groceries and meal prep for three days at work

*get gas, do light housework, change out two floodlamps on the deck

*nap

Happy Friday!

Gina 

Chocolate Chip cookie dough to keep on hand

I had forgotten about this particular recipe card for cookies until I had a sweet tooth attack lately.  Its a hybrid recipe - created by me from a couple of other recipes.  It might be my favorite cookie - crisp chewie and so buttery. They should be famous!  This time I was out of my favorite dark chocolate chips, so I used a mix of white chips and semi-sweet chunks.

Gina's Famous Chocolate Chippers (ha!)

1 1/2 sticks butter - melted, slightly browned, and cooled

3/4 c. each white sugar and brown sugar

1 1/2 t. vanilla extract

1 egg

Mix all of that together and add:

2 c. flour

1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

then

1 c. chocolate chips of your choice

(the beauty of this recipe is no mixer is involved, you can mix these up by hand, and the dough isn't sticky so it releases from your scooper easily)

Pre-heat oven to 350. Chill the dough for 20 minutes, NOT LONGER. Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet (I use a Silpat) and bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

I use a 1/8 c. measuring cup and make dough balls to freeze on a plate.  When they are frozen I pop them into a gallon size ziploc and store in the freezer.  From frozen, they take a couple minutes longer to cook.  When you take them from the oven, slam the cookie sheet down a couple of times gently and the cookies will settle and look perfect. (see above!)

I took some over to The Girl, warm from the oven, and told her they were from a new place called G's Treats.  Located in the suburbs, the woman only has one oven.  They were a hit!

Gina